Vaporizing apparatus



VAPOR I Z I NG APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. 1, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR fllda LZujmu',

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150,8 ATTORNEYS Dec. 12, cU

VAPORIZING APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. 1, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v n m A @w 0, m

Reissued Dec. 12,1933

' UNITED STATES PATENT orl-"lca r'nesne assignments, to The Gasolaire Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Original. No. 1,882,319, dated October 11, 1932,- Serial No. 472,302, August 1, 1936. Application for reissue June 9, 1933. Serial No. 675,112

14 Claims. -(Cl. 261--15) This invention relates to devices for gasifying volatile liquid fuels and more particularly refers to improvements in devices for producing combustible gas from volatile liquid fuels, adapted for use, in connection with ordinary gas burners, such as are found in gas stoves and like appliances.

In a patent for Vaporizer, issued to me July 8, 1930, Patent No. 1,770,127, I have described and claimed a device of the character specified, consisting of a gas generating apparatus, adapted to be set directly on top of a fuel supplyv tank, forming a unit therewith. The gas generating unit proper comprises means, such as a fan, for producing a forced draft through and out of a vaporizing chamber, a pump forcing liquid fuel from a supply tank into the vaporizing chamber, means within the vaporizing chamber for percolating or otherwise distributing the fuel over a wide surface in the presence of the current of air supplied by the fan, and a motor for actuating both the pump and the fan.

In said device the vaporization of the fuel is chiefly effected by the air meeting the fuel while it percolates through a porous substance, the fuel vapors and the air, together forming a combustible gas, in sufl'icient volume and pressure to be directed to the consuming device through a pipe line.

The fuel thus supplied by the pump to the vaporizing chamber is not, as a rule, vaporized in its entirety, so that part of it, consisting chiefly of the heavier fractions, collects at the bottom of the vaporizing chamber and is returned therefrom to the supply tank.

I have found that by thus causing the heavy ends of a liquid fuel, which are less readily vaporized, to be returned to the liquid fuel supply tank,

the quality of the fuel in the tank gradually deteriorates so that the generation of combustible gas becomes less and less effective.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which more effectively vaporizes the liquid fuel than has heretofore been done in existing devices and which likewise prevents the empoverishment of the fuel in the main supply tank; the heavier ends of the fuel being effectively prevented from returning to the supply tank and being returned to the vaporizing chamber immediately as collected, thus insuring the complete vaporization of the fuel.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved vaporizing apparatus, in which a relatively small pump supply chamber, or pocket, is interposed between the main source of fuel supply and the pump, so as to serve as the im- A further object of the invention is to provide, I

in a vaporizing apparatus of the character specifled, a local source of heat, promoting vaporization of the fuel, said source of heat being preferably in the path of the air flowing through the vaporizing chamber and the outlet thereof to the distributing pipe line.

A still further object is to provide, in a vaporizing apparatus of the character specified, an electric source of heat, promoting the vaporization of the liquid fuel, its heating element proper being prevented from coming into actual contact with the combustible gas generated in the apparatus, said electric source of heat being for instance in the form of an easily procured and replaceable electric bulb, or bulbs.

An additional object is to provide .a novel and improved vaporizing apparatus, adapted to be made complete in unitary form, said apparatus comprising means for supplying fuel to the vaporizing chamber, means for supplying air under pressurethereto, means for supplying heat to the vaporizing chamber and means'for collecting and immediately rerouting through the system the unvaporized portions of the fuel returned from the vaporizing chamber.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will more fully appear as the description proceeds and will be set forth and claimed in the appended claims. I a J My invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation, party broken away and in section, showing a device embodying my invention; 3

Fig. 2 is a view in section, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal section, taken through the pump' mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the above drawings, a suitable plate isshown at 1 for mounting a base 2 upon which a standard 3 is secured. This standard is formed with a head 4, to one side of which a motor supporting housing 5 is secured. An electric motor 6 is secured in the housing 5 and drives a shaft '7 through a suitable clutch mechanism 8. The shaft '7 is journaled in the sides of the head 4 and 9 and is formedwith an overhang 10, upon which a fan 11 is mounted. The head of the standard 3 is formed with a fan housing 12 having a tangential 'duct 13 communicating therewith.

Likewise journaled'within the head 4, but lying at right angles to the axis of shaft 7, is a shaft 14 provided with a worm wheel 15. This Worm wheel is engaged by a worm 16 which is carried by the shaft 7 and thus the rotation of shaft '7 is imparted to shaft 14. A chamber 17 is formed adjacent the head 4 of the standard 3 andreceives the projecting end of shaft 14. A suitable crank,

18 is secured to the end of shaft 14 and drives a pump plunger 19 through a connecting rod 20; A bushing 21 on the plunger 19 restricts the move:

ment of the latter to a truly restricted axial motion within a pump cylinder 22. The cylinder is preferably threaded into the bottom wall of chamvalve seat 26, upon which a ball check valve 27 normally seats. -Upon the lower end of plunger '19, a piston 28 is secured, this piston being formed with an axial bore 29 and a restricted portion 30, 1 h upon whicha ballcheck valve 31 rest-s.

An aperture 32 is provided in the piston to afford a suitable comznunication between the pumpcylinder and the axial bore 29. of the piston. The. foregoing structure, it will be apparent, forms a pump mechanism, the purpose of which will be pointed out more fully hereinafter. It is preferred that the bushing 21 be formed with longitudinal grooves, in order. that the fluid pumped to the pump cylinder 22may overflow the same and pass into the chamber 17.

- Formed upon'thehead 4 is a manifold 33 which communicates with the duct 13. A suitable duct 34 provides the necessary communication between manifold 33 and the chamber 17, thus permitting the liquid in said chamber to flow intothe manifold 33." lD'ependin'gfrom the manifold isa tubular housing member 35 formed with a bottom plate 36 and a lamp mounting 37. The lamp mounting is, preferably apertured, at 38 and formed with a lamp base- 39 within which an electric bulb 40 is mounted, A. lamp housing 41 is secured to'the bottom 36, the latter being preferably of annular profile and Ya suitable filter or' flow retarding device 42 is mounted over the base.

f Within the housing 35, a plurality of filters or flow retarding devices 43 are mounted, a plate 44 being positioned at the top of housing 35 and apertured at 45 to permit the fluid within the manifoldto percolate downwardly through the filters,.43. e

A conduit"46 is axially mounted within the manifold 33 and extends downwardly,-preferably '1 f48 i s 'secured'to the conduit.- A downwardly depending cylindrical baflie 49-is secured to the periphery of flange 48 and directs the flow of the liquid andgasifled fuel over a, circuitous course beforeit reaches the apertures 4'7 and the gaseous. fuelpipe 46.

.A suitablefltting 5o is'secured to the outlet :of the pipe 46. to, facilitate the connection of a suitable supply pipe or line to the apparatus and the manner in which liquid fuel isvaporized will be readily apparent from the above description.

7 from the bottom of Fuel which is pumped through the pump cylinder 22 will overflow in the manifold 33 and percolate downwardly through the filters 43. neously, the fan 11 will direct a blast of air downwardly. through the housing 35 and thus vaporize the liquid fuel, the vaporized fuel passing upwardly between the baffle 49 and the lamp housing 41, through the aperture 4'7 and into the supply pipe .46.

In accordance with one of the objects of this invention it is proposed to prevent the portions of the liquid fuel which have not been initially vaporized from being returned to the liquid fuel supply tankor source of liquid supply (not shown), which communicates with supply pipe 57. In furtherance of this idea, a relatively small pump supply or collecting chamber is interposed between fuel supply pipe 57 and suction pipe 58, leading to the pump cylinder through the intermediary of fitting 24. It will be observed that by virtue of this arrangement, chamber 56 constitutes the immediate source of liquid supply for the pump and that, since said chamber is relatively small, whatever liquid fuel collects therein, will be immediatey taken up by the pump and forced into chamber 17. Said chamber 56 also acts as a collecting chamber for the unvaporized fuel returned from the vaporizing chamber. To

Simultathis end, a return pipe 51 is provided, which comthrough pipe 51 and collecting the same temporarily. Within the chamber 52 is provided a float I 53, formed with a valve 54 which seats over the entrance of a duct 55. Suction pipe 58 leads the chamber 56 to the pump fitting 24.

, It will thus be seen that the heavy ends from the vaporizing chamber 35 will collect in the trap chamber 52 until the quantity thereof is sufficient to lift the float 53 and permit the same to flow into the pump supply chamber 56. From said chamber the suction pump immediately draws them into chamber 1'7, from which chamber they overflow into the vaporizing chamber and are finally vaporized. Their vaporization in this second stage is materially assisted by the fact that their temperature had already been raised during their previous passage from the vaporizing chamber.

f The heat from bulb 40 materially aids in the vaporization of the fuel, particularly of the heavier ends, said bulb being preferably connected in the circuit with the motor 6, by a suitable wire 59.

It is, of course, within the scope of my invention to use some other form of electric heat generating means,;but where the liquid fuel used is easily volatilized I prefer to use an electric bulb, or bulbs, because such a bulb is easily procured anywhere at small cost'and because its filament is effectively protected from coming into direct contact with the combustible gas mixture; the danger of ignition or explosion is, therefore, avoided.

It will be observed that the air under pressure supplied .by the fan and the fuel percolating "so a assisted by the heat generated by bulb 4 0 and by the circuitous course provided bybaflle 49v and lamp housing 41.

It is to be understood that although I prefer to provide a trap device for temporarily collecting the'unvaporized fractions before they are returned to the suction endof the pump, for the purposes of my invention it is not strictly nec-;

essary that this be done; since the basic idea consists in providing, in a vaporizing apparatus of the character specified, an arrangement whereby the unvaporized fractions of the fuel are redirected through suitable means to' the vaporizing chamber immediately as collected, so

as to prevent them from reaching the fuel tank.

substance, the suction end of the pump,-whatever liquid will be contained in chamber 56, including said fractions, will be sucked up by the pump in advance of any fresh fuel reaching the chamber 56 through supply pipe 57; the quality of the body of liquid constituting the source 'of supply will, therefore, remain unimpaired.

It is obvious that the function ofthe trap is not so much the collecting of heavy ends returning from the vaporizing chamber, as acting as a check valve for the return pipe 51, insuring at all times the effectiveness of the pump suction,

said check valve being open only when there is' some liquid in chamber 52,which should be admitted to the feed line for the pump. However, it is possible to conceive of other arrangements whereby the unvaporized fuel can be recirculated immediately as collected, without the use of a I trap.

It must be understood that the immediate return ofthe unvaporized fractions to the vaporizing chamber, wherethey are finally vaporized, creates a condition whereby a substantial uniformity is reached in the grade of fuel supplied to the device, with minor fluctuations due to the momentary variations occurring in the proportion of heavy ends returned and new fuel supplied to the chamber. condition, for it in its turn insures substantial uniformity in the intensity of the flame at the burner end.

In arrangements heretofore known, the unvaporized fuel was allowed to return to the main source of supply, the quality of the fuel would gradually deteriorate and the quality of the gas generated would become poorer and poorer, until it would become necessary to remove the fuel and replace it with an entirely new supply. The arrangement is, therefore, advantageous from the standpoint of both per formance and economy. a

The inventive idea may be carried into prac tice in ways different from that shown; the drawings will, therefore, be understood as being intended for illustrative purposes only. and not in a-limiting sense. I, accordingly, reserve the right to carry my invention into practice in all those ways and manners which may enter, fairly, into the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A vaporizing device comprising a vaporizing chamber having a gas outlet, means to introduce a current of air into the chamber, whereby the flow thereof is directed out the outlet,

This is a very desirable where a source of liquid supply, means: to direct liquid into the chamber to be vaporized, means to collect liquid from the chamber and maintain the same separate from the source of liquid, and

means to supply the collected liquid to the liquid directing means, whereby said collected liquid will be directly returned to the chamber by said directing means, preventing said collected liquid from becoming mixed with the body of liquid constituting the liquid supply.

'2. A vaporizing device comprising a vaporizing chamber having a gas outlet, means to introduce a current of air into the chamber, whereby the flow thereof is directed out the outlet, a source of liquid supply, means to direct liquid into the chamber to be vaporized, means to collect liquid from the chamber and maintain the same separate from the source of liquid, and means to supply the collected liquid to the liquid directing means, after a predetermined quantity thereof has been collected; whereby said collected liquid will be directly returned to the chamber by-said directing means, preventing said coilected liquid from becoming mixed with the body of liquid constituting the liquid supply.

3. A vaporizing device comprising a vaporizing chamber having a gas outlet, means to introduce a current of air into the chamber, whereby the flow thereof is directed out the outlet, a source of liquid supply, means to direct liquid into the chamber to be vaporized, means to collectliquid from the chamber and maintain the same separate from the source of liquid, and a valve in said collecting means for admitting said collected liquid to said source in the immediate zone of action of saiddirecting means, whereby said collected liquid will be directly re turned to the chamber by said directing means, preventing said collected liquid from becoming mixed with the body of liquid constituting the liquid supply.

4. A vaporizing device comprising a vaporizing chamber having a gas outlet, means to introduce a" current of air into the chamber, whereby the fiow thereof is directed out the outlet, a source of liquid supply, means to direct liquid into the chamberto be vaporized, means to collect liquid from the chamber and maintain the same separate from the source of liquid, and a valve in said collecting means actuated by the level of the liquid for admitting said collected liquid to said source in the immediate zone of action of said-directing means, whereby said collected liquid will be directly returned to the chamber by said directing means, preventing said collected liquid from becoming mixed with the body of liquid constituting the liquid supply.

5. A vaporizing device comprising a vaporizing chamber having a gas outlet, means to introduce a current of air into the chamber,

whereby the flow thereof is directed out the tain the same separate from the liquid flowing from the source including a trap above the said collecting chamber and connected thereto, a float in the trap, a valve actuated by the float to control a communication between the trap and collecting chamber, and a pump in I inwardly projecting housing in the first housing at the end distant from the flow retardingend and coaxial therewith, a baflle mounted at the inlet end of the outlet-pipe overlying saidinwardly projecting housing and concentric therewith, and a heating means in the second housing.

7. A vaporizing device comprising a vaporizing'chamber having a gas outlet, means to introduce a current of air into the chamber, whereby--.the flow thereof is directed out the outlet, means to discharge liquid to be vaporized directly in the path of the air flow so as to form a mixture with said air while entering said chamber, a source of liquidserving said discharge means,

and means for redirecting liquid from said chamber, ,to'the immediate zone of action of said liquiddischarge means, whereby said redirected liquid will be prevented from becoming mixed with the body of liquid constituting the liquid supply and returned to said chamber as soon as it is collected, to be finally vaporized.

8. A vaporizing device comprising a'vaporizing chamber having a gas outlet, means to introduce a current of 'air into the chamber, whereby the flow thereof is directed out the outlet," means to discharge liquid to be vaporized directly in the path of the air flow so as to form a mixture with said air while entering said chamber, a local source of heat, heating the mixture within said chamber and assisting the vaporization of the liquid therein contained, a source of liquid serving said discharge means, and means for redirecting liquid from said chamber to the immediatezone of action of said liquid discharge means, whereby said redirected liquid will be prevented from becoming mixed with the body of liquid convaporized.

9,. A vaporizing device comprising a vaporizing chamber having a gas outlet, means to introduce a current of air into the chamber, whereby the flow'thereof is directed out the outlet, a suction pump to dischargeliquidto be vaporized'directly in the path of the air flow soas to form a mixture with said air while entering said chamber,

prevent said unvaporized liquid from becoming mixed with the body ofliquid constituting the liquid supply, and return it to said chamber as v in;

a manifold, i

soon as it is collectedito be finally vaporized.

10. A vaporizing device comprising a vapori'z-. ing chamber having a' gas outlet, means to intro-' duce a current of vair into the chamber, whereby the flow thereof is directed out theoutlet, a suction pump to discharge liquid to be vaporized directly in the path of the air flow so as to form a mixture with said air while entering said chamber, a local source of heat assisting the vaporization of the liquid therein contained, a source of liquid serving the suction end of' said pump, and a return line connecting said chamber to said suction end, whereby the unvaporized liquid in said chamber will be redirected to the immediate ,zone ,o1' action of said' pump, so] as to prevent said "unvaporized. liquid from becoming mixed with the body of liquid constituting the liquid supply, and return it to said chamber as soon as it is collected, tobe finally vaporized.

lL AvapOriZing'deVice comprising a vaporizing chamber, means'for supplying a current of air to said chamber, means for supplying to said chamber liquid to be vaporized, heat generating 'means. within said chamber for assisting the vaporization of saidliquid, and means for recir culating throughsaid chamber unvaporized liquid collected therefrom immediately as collected, without allowing it to become mixed with the body of liquid constituting the liquid supply, until said liquidis entirely vaporized. j

12. Avaporizing device comprising a vaporizing chamber having an inlet and an ,outlet, a fan directing a current of air to said inlet, means for directingto said inlet, in the path of saidair, liquid to be vaporized, a local source of heat assisting the vaporization of said liquid within said chamber, and means for redirecting to said liquid directing means unvaporized liquid from said chamber, .to' be immediately recirculated thereby.

p 13. A vaporizing device comprising avaporizing chamber having an" inlet and an outlet, a fan directing a current of air to said inlet, means for directing to said inlet, in thepath of said air, liquid to be vapOrizedQa local ,source of heat as.- sistingthe' vaporization offsa'id liquid within said chamber, means for redirecting to said liquid directing means unvaporized liquid from said chamber, tobe, immediately recirculated thereby, andfa porous partition-at the, inlet end of said chamber, I

14. A vaporizing device comprising. a'vaporizing'chamber, having an inlet andan outlet, a fan directing a.'current of air to said inlet, means for directing to said inlet, in the path of said air, liquid to be vaporized, means for redirecting to said liquid directing means unvaporized liquid from said chamber, to be immediately recirculated thereby, and'a porous partition at the inlet end of said chamber..

ALDO CURIONI. 

